Martin Luther King, Jr. Signed Program 5 Days Before Embarking for "The Land of Gandhi"

A program signed by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), the Baptist minister and Civil Rights activist, as "Martin L. King Jr" on the front cover. Signed in Gary, Indiana on January 29, 1959. King's signature is enormous, measuring 4.875" x 2.125" alone, and he employed so much pressure when signing the cover that a partial ghost impression of the signature appears on the program's second page. The previous owner of the program signed her name on the inside of the front cover, and inscribed King's death and burial dates on the page containing his biographical sketch. The wrappers show expected wear including chipped edges, foxing, discoloration, and wrinkles. Some closed tears running along the binding. Else good to very good. 4to. 8.375" x 11.25".

Gary, Indiana hosted a reception for King just five days before he left on a month-long trip to India; the program title "Dr. Martin Luther King, Kr. / Bon Voyage to Europe / (Dr. King delivers address for College friend, / Rev. Julius James, before sailing)" puts it another way. The event, which took place at the city's Memorial Auditorium under the auspices of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, consisted of a series of welcome addresses given by Gary officials and a speech delivered by King. 50 cent donations benefited the Fair Share Organization, a local charity founded by Reverend Julius James (1918-1994), Dr. King's friend and Morehouse College classmate. Reverend James also introduced King that evening.

As he later recounted in an article entitled "My Trip to the Land of Gandhi", King left New York on February 3, 1959, traveling via Paris and Switzerland to India. During his trip, King learned more about the life and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), the man who so strongly influenced King's own belief in non-violent resistance and civil disobedience. King's visit to India occurred just over four months after he survived an assassination attempt in a Harlem bookstore. If anything, his near-death experience further solidified his personal commitment to non-violence.

King had earned his B.A. at Morehouse College in 1948; his college friend Reverend Julius James had graduated in 1952. Reverend James preached at several Georgia congregations before accepting a post at the St. John Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana in 1955; he would lead the church until his death in 1994.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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